The results of the latest LSI survey on Indonesian Muslim political preferences and attitudes.

1092 Muslim men and women from a representative sample of places, socio-economic groups, and general backgrounds were questioned between 23rd September and 3rd October. Conducted by the Lembaga Survei Indonesia. The questions:

Democracy is the best system for our country.

Agree - 82%

Disagree - 5%

Don't Know - 13%

Democracy is the source of the country's economic problems.

Agree - 12%

Disagree - 68%

Don't Know - 10%

Women have the right to be leaders.

Agree - 70%

Disagree - 20%

Don't Know - 10%

Women should not be allowed to become president.

Agree - 29%

Disagree - 61%

Don't Know - 10%

The next question on Pancasila is similar, but far better phrased, than a question in a recent poll by Lingkaran Survei Indonesia.

Do you agree that...?.

Pancasila and the 1945 constitution is the best system for Indonesia - 83%

Pancasila and the 1945 constitution is not the best system for Indonesia and should be changed - 5.3%

Don't Know - 11.7%

Do you agree that...?.

Democracy is opposed to Pancasila - 6.2%

Democracy goes well with Pancasila - 80%

Don't Know - 13.8%

Do you agree that...?.

Democracy is opposed to Islam - 8.4%

Democracy goes well with Islam - 78.4%

Don't Know - 13.2%

Do you agree that...?.

Pancasila and the 1945 constitution are opposed to Islam - 3.5%

Pancasila and the 1945 constitution go well with Islam - 85%

Don't Know - 11.5%

Do you know of and support the following organisations?

Jamaah Islamiyah - 17.4%

Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia - 16.1%

Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia - 7.2%

The bombings done by Imam Samudra and co. in Bali are a form of jihad to defend Islam.

Don't Know - 10.3%

Disagree - 80.7%

Agree - 9%

Do you feel close to....?

Parties with Islamic platforms (like PPP, PKS) - 5%

Parties based in Islamic organisations (like PAN, PKB) - 5%

Secular parties (like Golkar, PDI-P) - 13%

Do you feel close to....?

PKS - 2.3%

PBB - 0.5%

PPP - 2.2%

PAN - 1.5%

PKB - 3.2%

If an election were held now who would you vote for?

Parties with Islamic platforms (like PPP, PKS) - 9%

Parties based in Islamic organisations (like PAN, PKB) - 9.5%

Secular parties (like Golkar, PDI-P) - 43%

Other parties - 2.5%

Undecided - 36%

If an election were held now who would you vote for?

PKS - 4.1%

PBB - 0.7%

PPP - 4.1%

PAN - 4.2%

PKB - 5.3%

7 Comments on “Muslim Political Attitudes”

Generally this looks pretty good. Something to be optimistic about overall, especially considering all the talk about a conservative swing here. However the 9% who think that bombings are an acceptable form of jihad is rather depressing. Just shows that there are plenty of idiots out there who obviously don’t spend much time reading their Koran.

You should always be sceptical to this kind of surveys. People normally answering them are generally more interested in the society and therefore more aware of intolerance and the fake arguments of extremists. Nevertheless I think it proves that SBY’s moderate way to handle intolerance and extremism might be working. Perhaps confrontation isn’t always the best way even if you disagree completely. Perhaps better to deal with extremists “the Indonesian way” than to shoot violent protesters on the street.

However, this is not to say that we can rest. This kind of forum and website is needed more than ever. Not least to spread the awareness of RI’s enormous challanges ahead to keep on track for non-violence and openness, as well as to point out the importance and correlation between tolerance,openmindedness and intergration into the world community for growth, both personal and economic. The fight for a democratic, tolerance and prosperous RI must never cease.

This does look hopeful, but I am skeptical of surveys. Who were the Moslems surveyed? If they were from Jakarta or Bandung, upper class, and well off, then I would not be surprised to see the results above. However, if they were from Aceh, I would be very surprised. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Great to know that about 80.7% did not support Bali bombing which done by Iman Samudra and 9% was agreed. The 9% who agreed are great danger for Indonesia’s stability…keep watch on them! How the government to tackle them?

I agree with O.Bule’s skepticism. It would be good to know more about the sample method used. If the survey is accurate though, then a figure of 9% of a population of around 250,000,000 people is still a very scary figure.